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Monday, January 28, 2013

Four Brainstorming Tools for Those Wandering in the Land of Writer’s Block by Lindsay Harrel

So glad to welcome Lindsay Harrel to The Writers Alley today! She has a GREAT post for you!

We’ve all
been there. The Land of Writer’s Block, that is.

It’s a
scary place, full of evil creatures that cackle at you for your ineptitude, and
vines that suddenly grow up from the ground to choke the confidence right out
of you. A place that leaves you digging in the dirt for gold because you just
can’t seem to reach them thar hills in the distance.

In fact, do
they even exist?

Yes, they
do! And you can get there, I promise. There’s a well of creativity inside of
you just waiting to be tapped. You just need the right tools to do it.

Tool #1: Freewriting

Let’s
travel back to ENG 101 for a bit. Remember when your teacher would ask you to
write whatever you felt like for ten minutes straight? It didn’t have to have a
theme or be grammatically correct. The only rule? You had to keep writing, even
if all you wrote was “I can’t think of anything to write.” Because, hey, that
often leads to waxing philosophic about what you do and do not know about life,
right?

If you feel
absolutely bone dry and don’t know what to write about, just try some
freewriting of your own. You may not use anything produced in that exercise,
but it gets the creative juices flowing. And who knows? You may subconsciously
stumble across just the thing you need to fix you scene or dream up a plot
twist.

Tool #2: Interviewing

Ever feel
like you have no idea what your characters would do in a certain situation?
Does everything you can think of feel untrue to who they are as people?
Well…why not ask them what they’d do? Yep. Rock it like the journalist you are
and conduct an interview.

Susan May
Warren and the awesome peeps over at My
Book Therapy recommend this technique and it works great. Ask your
character what motivates her, what lie she believes, what one moment in her
past defines her, and what her greatest dream is.

Just don’t
be surprised when she answers you. *wink*

Tool #3: Storyworld

When I’m
plotting a scene, so often I think about what happens and who is involved. But
maybe you’re drawing a complete blank and you don’t know what comes next. Have
no fear—storyworld is here to save you! Say what?

Yeah, so
you don’t know what happens, but do you know where the scene is set? If not,
imagine a creative setting. Then begin to build the storyworld in your head.
Ask yourself what it looks like, smells like, feels like, tastes like, and
sounds like. Then begin to figure out who is there, what is happening, when and
where it’s happening, and why it’s happening.

Tool #4: Your Phone (or Skype)

How does
your phone help you brainstorm? Because you can use it to call up a writer bud
and talk through your ideas with them.

For my
current work in progress, I got on the phone for three hours with my critique
partner, Melissa Tagg, and she
basically came up with the hook for my story. I was almost there, on the cusp
of a great idea, but she came through and helped deliver it to me. Getting
someone else’s perspective is just as helpful in the beginning stages of a
story as in the revision stage.

So,
although you may feel like a permanent citizen in the Land of Writer’s Block,
just remember—there is an escape! Use the tools you’ve been given and soon
you’ll be livin’ it up in the Hills of Gold.

Your Turn: How do you deal with
writer’s block?

Since the age of six, when she wrote the
riveting tale “How to Eat Mud Pie,” Lindsay Harrel has passionately engaged the
written word as a reader, writer, and editor. She has a bachelor’s in
journalism and a master’s in English, and is published in the Falling in Love with You anthology
released by OakTara in October 2012. Lindsay lives in Phoenix, Arizona, with
her husband of six years and two golden retriever puppies in serious need of
training. Connect with her on her blog
or via Facebook or Twitter (@LindsayHarrel).

Sometimes it works to just take a break, though if you're on a contract with a deadline coming up, you certainly don't have as much freedom to do so. But if you're on your first book, like me, that's how I deal with it. I use that time to go back into my research books or just random books that have nothing to do with my subject matter whatsoever. Sometimes an idea comes in the strangest of ways.

I so agree with your tip about brainstorming with a friend or critique partner (and not just because you happened to give me a shout-out there--thanks, friend!)...but because it works! Your input and listening ear when I've been all muddled up in my plot has been amazing. Same with the coaching and help I've received from MBT peeps.

Linds, I love this post! Brainstorming is always so fun, but also so stressful for me because I'm always worried about missing a better story, if that makes sense. Your tips are excellent ways to turn the creativity on and the inner editor off! Also, you are SO right about getting on the phone... When I'm brainstorming, I usually nag Angie to death with text messages of ideas I've come up with, or send late night emails! It can help SO much to get another perspective to round out your idea. Great post! :)

Love all the ideas, Lindsay! One of my best tools for writer's block and bringing my story to my husband - AGAIN! Sometimes he'll say to me: "You know, I've already heard this story premise three times." And I'll say: "Ya, but I'm working it out." Then he patiently listens and gives me feedback. It's nice to have a man's perspective. I also love interviewing my characters. It's the best way to get into their head and hear their voice. Thanks for the tips! It's fun seeing you at the Writer's Alley!

I'm checking in late, but I love your ideas for climbing out of the Valley of Writer's Block. I most often find myself talking with a friend or interviewing my characters to move beyond. But, sometimes, reading another author's novel refreshes and inspires me to write myself out of that valley.

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